wheeler



Aug. 20, 1935. H. H. WHEELER TURRET INDEX AND SUCTION CONTROL FOR CIGAR MACHINES 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 21,

INVENTOR fi I, I f/ '1 ATTORNEY Aug. 20, 1935. WHEELER Re. 19,677

TURRET INDEX AND SUCTION CONTROL FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 21., 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 3 [2 2; 63 4:3 55 /30 INVENTO gay/Z I '1 ATTORNEY Aug. 20, 1935. H. H. WHEELER TURRET INDEX AND SUCTION CONTROL FOR-CIGAR MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 21, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NTOR "I ATTORNEY MN W E Q /7 Q% :ZEQQR 52 a RN @QC Reissued Aug. 28, 1935 Re,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TURRET INDEX AND SUCTION CONTROL FOR CIGAR MACHINES Henry H. Wheeler, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Or ginal No. 1.981.486. dated November 20, 1934,

Serial No. 657.847, February 21, 1933. Application for reissue June 7, 1935, Serial No. 25,497

14 Claims. (Cl. 131-49) This invention relates to cigar machines structions and combinations hereinafter fully deequipped with a turret carrying two wrapper cutting-dies for high-speed wrapper serving. its main object being to provide a simple, positively locking indexing device having a low ratio of maximum to minimum velocity of motion, thereby insuring smooth running of the turret at high speed.

In duplex-die cigar machines, such as disclosed in Patent No. 1,888,788, granted Nov. 22. 1932, to S. Clauscn, the die turret turns one-half revolution after a leaf section is laid on one wrapper cutting-die, each Wrapper being out from the leaf on the cutting-die while the latter is in transit and then picked up by the suction head of the wrapper carrier while the next leaf is being served by the operator. With the present invention the wrapper is out While the die turret is stationary; accordingly, 3. further object of this invention is the production of a novel device operating to advance the tobacco leaf from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position and cut the wrapper therefrom while it is stationary.

Each die is mounted on a leaf supporting suction bed on which the leaf section is held by suction while being carried by the turret to wrapper cutting position, where the wrapper is cut and transferred from the die by being lifted to the carrier head and then held by suction to the latter during its transfer to the wrapperapplying device in which it is wound on the cigar bunch. For the purpose of effecting the various suction conditions, the intermittently rotating turret table and its stationary support frame are provided with axial ports so that the motion of the turret produces the difierent port combinations required, and the suction is further controlled by a cam-operated slide valve. Therefore, a further object of the invention is to provide novel suction means.

Indexing devices heretofore employed to impart the intermittent motion of the die turret, due to the nature of the mechanism used, had the disadvantage of running at a comparatively high speed during a portion of each revolution, thereby producing a more or less jerky motion of the turret, and impairing the proper action of the indexing mechanism. The present turret index overcomes this objection, having a much more even motion throughout its cycle, resulting in much smoother running of the turret. This is accomplished by mounting on the turret shaft a disk carrying two diametrically opposite rollers, these rollers engaging with the divided track of a cam rotated by suitable gearing from the main shaft of the cigar machine. During each revolution of this cam, the divided track causes a reversal in the position of the said rollers, thereby producing a half turn of the turret shaft. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain conscribed and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. l is a sectional end elevation showing a die turret of a high speed cigar machine equipped :ith the improved indexing device and suction control;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the operation of the turret index;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the suction ports in the turret support;

Fig. 4 is a detail view from line 44 of Fig. 1, showing a stationary suction distributing valve attached to the turret support;

Fig. 5 is a detail view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the suction ports in the turret head;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6 showing details of the leaf supporting suction heads.

In carrying the invention into eifect there is provided a rotatable carrier, two leaf supporting suction beds mounted in diametrically opposite positions on said carrier, each bed having a Wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier in 180 degree steps to carry each suction bed successively from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of the suction bed while it is at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon and mechanism for moving said roller over the cutting die of the suction bed at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon while the carrier is at rest. In the best forms of construction contemplated said means includes a shaft on which the carrier is mounted, a disk on said shaft provided with two rollers on its outer face at diametrically opposite points thereof, a rotatable cam provided with a circular cam track receiving both of said rollers to lock said shaft against rotation, said track being provided with a non-circular portion, and said cam having a by-pass connecting opposite portions of said track and adapted to receive one of said rollers while the other roller is engaged by a non-circular portion of the track, and mechanism for continuously rotating said cam to successively cause each of said rollers to enter the non-circular portion of said track and rotate said shaft one halfturn. In the best forms of construction there is also provided suction means controlled by the rotation of said carrier and connected to said beds for holding a leaf thereon and releasing the cut wrapper while each suction bed dwells at wrapper cutting position, and including a camoperated slide valve actuated independently of the movement of said carrier. These various neans and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, the turret head or carrier 3 is mounted on a shaft 1 turnable in bear" ings 8 of a support frame ll having suction connections, hereinafter described, supported from the upper part of main frame Ill of the cigar machine by a tie bolt l l, and having a bracket l2 near its bottom secured to a tie bolt I3 of frame Hi, the latter also having a tie bolt l4 symmetrical with bolt I3. At diametrically opposite points of the carrier 8 are mounted two leaf supporting suction beds consisting of die holders E5 in bear-- ings id of which are slidably mounted rods l? supporting the hollow die blocks Iii which ioosely fit into plates I9 fastened to the holders to and supporting the die shells Zil. To each plate 59 is attached a Wrapper cutting die 2! held thereon by clamps 22.

The frame i= of the cigar machine supports the main shaft 23 and the fulcrum shaft 2 3, and carries the table plate 25 on which is pivoted arm 25 carrying the cutting roller unit it which cuts the wrapper on the rearward die shown in outline in Fig. 1, While the operator serves the forward die shown in cross section, at standstill of the turret.

A gear 21 mounted on shaft 23 drives a gear 253 on a shaft 29 supported by a bracket 36 on the turret frame 9. Shaft 29 has a bevel gear 3i meshing with a bevel gear 32 on a shaft 33 journaled in a bearing 34 of turret frame 9. To the lower end of shaft 35 is afiixtd a cam 35 one-a15 ing with rollers 35 and 319 carried by a disk 33 attached to turret shaft I.

The rollers 35 and 31', Fig. 2, are mounted on studs 39 carried at diametrically opposite points by the disk 33. The com track of 35 is cular except at one portion Ml at which it extends outwardly for a distance equal to half the dis tance between the rollers 35 and 31 less the height of an are formed by the roller distance on he pitch circle of cam track 35, the maximum displacement of the non-circular portion of the cam track being equal to the displacement of the roller center from said pitch circle when either roller enters the non-circular portion of the cam track. Perpendicular to the radius at the outgoing point 40 and at a center-distance from that point equal to the distance between the rollers 33 and 3?, a 'ov-pass 41 extends across the cam from one side of the circular track to the other. In position 40 of the cam, shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the rollers 36 and 37 are both in the circular tracx. roller 36 being in the rear and roller 31 in the front, thereby locking the turret shaft against rotation. In position lil', shown in dotted lines, the roller 36 by the clockwise advance of point 48 has been carried into position 535 and the roller 31 has been forced to enter and travel along by-pass 4|, now in position ll, thereby turning the disk 38 through one-quarter of a revolution in the clockwise direction. In position 40" of the earn, the roller 35 is in position 36" prevously occupied by roller 31 and roller 3? has emerged by by-pass H, now in position ii", and

is in position 31" formerly occupied by roller 35, so that now their positions are exactly reversed, that is, the disk 38 has turned through deresulting in a half-turn of turret shaft T. 'Iliereupon the engagement of the rollers 36 and 3'5 in the circular portion of the cam track holds the turret shalt locked until the portion to of the cam returns to engage the roller 31 and rotate the turret shaft another half-turn. In this manner the turret is intermittently rotated in rec degree steps.

The suction for hole ing the yn'apper is supplied through a box 52 attached to c amber E3 of turret frame 5* and cons outlet M to the r i .J ction source (not shown). ci'iamber 4.3 has a vertical division wall, -5; it into two ducts 493 and il, Fig. 3, each uuct leading to one of the suction beds through the vertical ports 38 and M, Fig. 1. From suction box 62, openings lead to the ducts and of chamber (13 and to a suction duct 53 in A frame Ii], which communicates with a suction. bracket 5i leading to the wrapper carrier, not shown, mounted on table plate 25. Between tie suction box as and chamber @3 and duct 50 inserted slide valves 52 and 53 designed to re] the suction. in the die blocks is and wit Jper carrier, respectively, and connected by links 5 and 55 to a cam lever 56 fulcruzned on shaft 1H and having a roller 51 held in engagent with a cam 53 on shaft 23 by a spring 59 atinched to bracket St. The valve 53 controls the supply of suction to each suction bed when it carries a leaf section. into wrapper cutting position. the valve 53 operating to out off the supply of suction to the die block to release the cut a.pper thereon while the suction bed dwells in w apper cutting position, through means pres-- ently described. Between the stationary frame 9 and the turret head El, attached fixedly to the 2;

former, is inserted a disk valve Gil having a number of port openings M, Fig. 4, communicating with the ports 58 and G9 in the frame 9. The turrot head 6 has two pairs of ducts E92, 63, and G2,

.13, Fig. 5. The ducts E22. and d2 communicating l;

in conjunction with the timed action of valves and produces all the different suction condi-- tions required at different stages for the proper operation cf the rnechanisn'iv the port openings in valve $8 being arranged to reg ster with the ducts G2 and E3, 83' for full suction hold on the leaf section from the time the suction bed leaves the leaf ser -117: position until after the wrapper is cut. While the turret dwells in the wrapper cutting position the suction in the die block is out off by the valve 53 to release the cut wrapper so that it may be transferred to the wrapper carrier, but the suction within the die sheil is roaintained until shortly before the die returns to lea serving position whereupon the operator remove the wrapper scrap before laying another leaf section on the suction bed.

The die block support rods I! on their lower ends carry rollers 64 by which they rest on a circular cam surface 65 surrounding the turret frame 9. This cam surface raises the die blocks fill above the wrapper cutting die 2| in the leaf and causes the die blocks to descend slightly below the cutting edge of the die in the cutting position to ensure a sharp and clean cut when the cutting roller unit moves over the die. While the suction bed is moving into wrapper cutting position, on extension 66 of the studs of rollers 64 engages with a pocket 51 at the upper end of a rod 65 slidably supported in lugs 69 extending from turret frame chamber 43. The rod 58 is connected by a link ill with cam lever H fulcrumed on shaft 24 and carrying a roller 12 held against the surface of a cam H on shaft 23 by a spring M fastened to a lug of cam 65. As the cam roller 72 engages with the low point of the cam 13 at the proper time, the rod 63 ascends, raising the die block 58 into engagement with the suction head of the wrapper carrier (not shown). The cam surface 55 is part of a bracket 15 attached to a pad 15 on turret frame 9 and supporting a die-serving table (not shown) abutting the housing ill of the turret.

The cutting roller unit 78 is mounted on arm 26 which turns on a stud '59 attached to table and is operated in synchronism with turret shaft I by a rod 8'! connected to a lever 3! provided with a cam roller 32 engaging with a drum cam 83 on shaft 23. By performing the wrapper cutting operation by movable rollers while the turret stands still, the advantage is gained that a much greater portion of the turret cycle can be utilized for the cutting operation than when cutting the Wrappers by stationary rollers during the motion of the turret, the ratio of dwell-- ing to motion time with the present index to 1. The slower cutting motion prevents pos sible sliding of the wrapper on the die and reduo-cs wear of the dies, promoting longer life of the same.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of two leaf supporting suction beds mounted in diametrically opposite positions on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier in 180 degree steps to carry each suction bed successively from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of cool "iion oed while it at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, and mechanism for moving said roller over the cutting die of the suction bed at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon while said carrier is at rest.

2. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of two leaf supporting suction beds mounted in diametrically opposite positions on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cut ting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier in 180 degree steps to carry each suction bed successively from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed while it is at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, and mechanism for moving said roller over the cutting die of the suction bed at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon while said carrier is at rest, said means including a shaft on which said carrier is mounted, a disk on said shaft provided with two rollers mounted on its outer face at diametrically opposite points thereof, a rotatable cam provided with a circular cam track receiving both of said rollers to lock said shaft against rotation, said track being provided with a non-circular portion, and said cam having a lay-pass connecting opposite portions of said track and adapted to receive one of said rollers while the other roller is engaged by the non-circular portion of the track, and mechanism for continuously rotating said cam to successively cause each of said rollers to enter the non-circular portion of the said track and rotate said shaft one half-turn.

In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of two leaf supporting suction beds mounted in diametrically opposite positions on said carrier, each bed having a Wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier in 180 degree steps to carry each suction bed successively from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed while it is at wrapper cutting position to out a wrapper from a leaf thereon, mechanism for moving said roller over the cutting die of the suction bed at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon while said carrier is at rest. and suction means controlled by the rotation of said carrier and connected to said beds for holding a leaf thereon and releasing the cut wrapper while each suction bed dwells at wrapper cutting position.

a. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of two leaf supporting suction beds mounted in diametrically opposite positions on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotatsaid carrier in 180 degree steps to carry each ion bed successively from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position. a cutting roller adapted to enact with the cutting die of each suction bed while it is at Wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, mechanism for moving said roller over the cutting die of the suction bed at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon while said carrier is at rest, and suction means controlled by the rotation of said carrier and connected to said beds for holding a leaf thereon and releasing the cut wrapper while each suction bed dwells at wrapper cutting position, said suction means including a cam-operated slide valve actuated independently of the movement of said carrier.

5. The combination with a rotatable carrier, of two leai supporting suction beds mounted in diametrically opposite positions on said carrier each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon. and means for intermittently rotating said carrier in 180 degree steps, said means including a shaft on which said carrier is mounted, a disk on said shaft provided with two rollers mounted on its outer face at diametrically opposite points thereof, a rotatable cam provided with a circular cam track receiving both of said rollers to lock said shaft against rotation, said track being provided with a non-circular portion, and said cam having a by-pass connecting opposite portions of said tr ck and adapted to recezve one of said rollers w the other is engaged by the non-circular portion of the track, and mechanism for continuously rotating said cam to successively cause each of said rollers to enter the non-circular portion of said track and rotate said shaft one half-turn.

6. The combination with a rotatable carrier. of means for intermitten ly rotating said carrier in 189 degree steps, said means including a shaft on which said carrier is mounted, a disk on said shaft provided with two rollers mounted on its outer face at diametrically opposite points thereof, a rotatable cam provided with a circular cam track receiving both of said rollers to lock said shaft against rotation, said track being provided with a non-circular portion, and said cam having a by-pass connecting opposite portions of said track and adapted to receive one of said rollers while the other is engaged by the non-circular portion of the track, and mechanism for continuously rotating said cam to successively cause each of said rollers to enter the non-circular portion of said track and rotate said shaft one half turn.

7. In combination with a shaft, a disk on said shaft provided with two rollers mounted on its outer face at diametrically opposite points thereof, a rotatable cam provided with a circular cam track receiving both of said rollers to loci; the shaft against rotation, said track being provided with a non-circular portion and said cam having a by-pass connecting opposite portions of said track and adapted to receive one of said rollers while the other is engaged by the non-circular portion of the track, and mechanism for continuously rotating said cam to successively cause each of said rollers to enter the non-circular portion of said track and rotate said shaft one half-turn.

8. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of a plurality of leaf supporting suction beds mounted on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to carry each suction bed from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed while it is at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, and mechanism for moving said roller over the cutting die of the suction bed at Wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon while said carrier is at rest.

9. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of a plurality of leaf supporting suction beds mounted on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to carry each suction bed from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed while it is at Wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, mechanism for moving said roller over the cutting die of the suction bed at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon while said carrier is at rest, and suction means controlled by the rotation of said carrier and connected to said beds for holding a leaf thereon and releasing the cut wrapper while each suction bed dwells at wrapper cutting position.

10. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of a plurality of leaf supporting suction beds mounted on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to carry each suction bed from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted. to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed while it is at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, mechanism for moving said roller over the cutting die of the suction bed at wrapper cutting position to cut a wrap er from a leaf thereon while said carrier is at rest, and

suction means connected to said beds for holding a leaf thereon and releasing the out wrapper while each suction bed dwells at wrapper cutting position, said suction means including a valve actuated independently of the movement of said carrier.

11. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of a plurality of leaf supporting suction beds mounted on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to carry each suction bed from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, and suction means connected to said beds for holding a leaf thereon and releasing the cut wrapper, said suction means including a valve actuated independently of the movement of said carrier throughout its operating cycle.

12. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of a plurality of leaf supporting suction beds mounted on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, and suction means connected to said beds for holding a leaf thereon and releasing the cut wrapper while each suction bed dwells at wrapper cutting position, said suction means incluring a valve actuated independently of the movement of said carrier, and a second valve controlled by the rotation of the carrier.

13. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of a plurality of leaf supporting suction beds mounted on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to carry each suction bed from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, said means including a rotatable driven index member in constant driving relationship to said carrier, and a continuously rotating driving index member acting on said driven member to rotate the same step by step, said driving and driven members having parts coacting to lock the driven member and associated carrier against rotation between steps.

14. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rotatable carrier, of a plurality of leaf sup porting suction beds mounted on said carrier, each bed having a wrapper cutting die thereon, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to carry each suction bed from leaf serving to wrapper cutting position, a cutting roller adapted to coact with the cutting die of each suction bed to cut a wrapper from a leaf thereon, said means including a rotatable driven index member in constant driving relationship to said carrier, a continuously rotating driving index member acting on said driven member to rotate the same step by step, said driving and driven members having parts coacting to lock the uriven member and associated carrier against rotation between steps, and a shaft on which said carrier is mounted, said driven index member being fixed to said shaft.

HENRY H. WHEELER. 

